Master confusing words with ease
Afflict vs. Inflict
Afflict
/əˈflɪkt/Examples:
The disease continues to afflict the remote village.His harsh words seem to afflict her deeply.Untreated, the condition can afflict the nervous system.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Inflict
/ɪnˈflɪkt/Examples:
He didn't mean to inflict pain on his friend.The manager didn't want to inflict longer hours on the team.The new law might inflict financial hardship on families.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Afflict usually suggests a prolonged period of suffering.
- Inflict suggests the action of causing damage or suffering.
- Afflict is typically used with issues or feelings, like afflict with pain.
- Inflict is an active process, often associating with a subject doing the action.
- Remember: a in afflict is for agony; in in inflict is for insert pain.
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